WASHINGTON - October 15 - Today, Media Matters for America responded to news that CNN has refused to air a new advertisement from America's Voice and Media Matters calling out the network for giving Lou Dobbs a prominent platform.

"CNN is willing to stand behind Dobbs, but it hides from legitimate criticism," said Eric Burns, president of Media Matters. "The most trusted name in news isn't willing to critically examine one of its pre-eminent hosts. Dobbs' record speaks for itself. He isn't worthy of the platform CNN gives him."

To watch the ad, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmgN83Cs49s

BACKGROUND:

America's Voice and Media Matters announced today they purchased ad time on CNN to air an ad calling out the network for continuing to give Lou Dobbs a prominent platform. The ad was set to air on October 21 and 22, during CNN's heavily promoted Latino in America series. Shortly after that announcement, Media Matters learned that CNN was rejecting the ad. America's Voice is a partner with Media Matters in the Drop Dobbs campaign, which calls attention to Dobbs' long history of reporting marred by baseless conspiracy theories, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and undisclosed conflicts of interest.

In August, Media Matters bought a week of ad time on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News in Washington, D.C., New York, and Atlanta to air an ad calling on CNN to credibly address Dobbs' repeated promotion of birther conspiracy theories. As reported on The Huffington Post, "[F]ive of the six cable providers contracted for the project have informed the group that they are declining to put the spot on CNN."

For more information on the Drop Dobbs campaign, please visit: www.DropDobbs.com.